Francis Ngannou has officially put the idea of fighting Jon Jones behind him.
For years, MMA fans have clamored for a clash between Ngannou, one of the most formidable heavyweights in UFC history, and Jones, the dominant former light heavyweight champion. Despite the hype and mutual interest during their overlapping UFC tenures, the fight never came to fruition. Ngannou says he has stopped discussing it.
“It’s been four years that I’ve been saying it,” Ngannou told Seconds Out. “I’m confused that people keep asking me this question. If it happens, yes, but if it doesn’t, f*ck it. I don’t care about it anymore.”
Contract disputes and disagreements derailed the matchup. In 2021, UFC CEO Dana White and Jones clashed over Jones’ financial demands for the fight. White later suggested that Ngannou prevented the bout from materializing.
Since leaving the UFC in 2022, Ngannou has carved his own path. After signing with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), he returned to MMA in October, scoring a knockout victory over Renan Ferreira. He’s also ventured into boxing, facing heavyweight icons Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Ngannou’s boxing journey has been a mix of highs and lows. He narrowly lost a controversial split decision to Fury but remains determined to secure a rematch. On the other hand, he’s hesitant about a second fight with Joshua after a devastating knockout loss, citing concerns about the circumstances surrounding that bout.
“I wasn’t comfortable in that fight,” Ngannou explained. “Something wasn’t right. I was in the locker room for almost four hours, which isn’t normal. If the same scenario happens again, I’m not interested.”
Despite the setbacks, Ngannou remains focused on improving. Should he face Fury again, he plans to refine his approach without overhauling his strategy.
“I’ll do the same thing but better,” Ngannou said confidently.
For now, the former UFC heavyweight champion is charting his course, leaving the long-discussed dream fight with Jon Jones in the rearview mirror.
